I'd like to encourage you now
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to go with me to
the Lord in prayer.
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And if you have
your Bibles this morning,
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which you do, we're going
to first read the scripture,
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we're going to have prayer,
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and then we're
going to open the Word.
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Open to the Book of John 21.
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And we're going to
read together verse 7.
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Notice I used the word together.
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I'd like us to read
the scripture together.
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John 21:7.
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It's on the screen to my right,
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if you could
see that, wonderful.
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If not, use your
Bibles. Let us read.
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"Therefore that disciple
whom Jesus loved said to Peter,
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'It is the Lord!'
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Now when Simon Peter
heard that it was the Lord,
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he put on his outer
garment, for he had removed it,
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and plunged into the sea."
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Loving Father in
heaven, this morning,
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as we think of
the call on our lives,
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may the obstructions
between You and us be removed.
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And may with reckless abandon,
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we do all in our power
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to close the gap
between us and You.
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This morning, Lord, I
invite Your Holy Spirit
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to come and speak to our hearts,
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take this message
that is in written form
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and add to it the power
that will reach into the heart
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and life of the ones
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that you know most need
to understand and hear it.
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And because You will do this,
I thank You now in Jesus' name.
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Amen.
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There's something
about abandoning ships
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that seem to be a
difficult thing to do.
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Whenever you scan the
pages of American history,
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you find that our
country is not immune to stories
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and timelines that
refer to abandoning ships.
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We all know that
oftentimes the most famous one
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we refer to is the Titanic.
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When, in fact, only
those that abandon ship
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were listed among the survivors
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because when the
ship was going down,
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they understood that at certain
points in your experience
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you've got to let
go of those things
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that were your
former points of security
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and then dive by faith
into the waters of deliverance.
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Another very famous
story, the Andrea Doria,
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a ship that was built
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and it was a
symbol of Italian pride.
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It was a ship way
ahead of its time.
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It was intended to
restore the economy of Italy.
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It was a luxurious ship,
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a very long and a
very powerful one.
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It was built with three stages
of class for the passengers,
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about 300
cabins for first class,
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about 250 cabins for,
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what they may
refer to as middle class,
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and for tourist class
which is in fact low class,
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they had more than 700 cabins.
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This was one of the
first ships ever built
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with three swimming pools on it.
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It was a very luxurious ship,
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beautiful in its
detail, meticulous woodwork.
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And the cabin crew of
more than 500 were taught
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how to entertain
the cabin passengers
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and to give them
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what they referred
to as top-class service.
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People were desirous
to be on the Andrea Doria.
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And her voyage from Italy
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to the Northern
coast of the United States
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was one that
people prided themselves
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in being a part
of until Andrea Doria
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met her fate as
another Scandinavian ship
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hit her broadside close to
Nantucket on the east coast.
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And it's now listed as
one of the largest tragedies
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in maritime history.
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But once again, only
those that abandon ship
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because when the ship was
hit, it listed to one side
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and half of the
lifeboats were under water.
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So they could not access them.
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But because they
were not far from land,
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people decided it's
time to abandon ship
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and only those
that abandoned ship
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were among the survivors.
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A sad story.
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And when you
begin to look at that
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and begin to parallel that
with the Christian journey,
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you'll discover that
the difference between
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who we are and who we can be
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is often in our reaction
to the crisis of our lives.
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But also the difference
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between who we
are and who we can be
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is also in our reaction
to the revelation of Jesus.
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When Jesus reveals Himself,
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our reaction to
the revelation of Jesus
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will determine
the difference between
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who we are and who we can be.
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That's why today
the story is so familiar
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and so important to me.
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I have taken on a
character in the Bible
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that in some degrees reminds
me in many ways of me, Peter.
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This impetuous, fast-talking,
slow-thinking disciple
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who when exposed
to the power of Jesus,
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one day the Lord synchronized
his mind and his mouth
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and he became a power
in the work of the kingdom.
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Can you say amen to that?
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The Lord
synchronized his thoughts.
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And when you look
at the life of Peter,
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you realize until
we come to the place
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where we realize
that the only one
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in control of
our success is Jesus.
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We will wear ourselves
out trying to produce results.
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The only one that can
bring us success is Jesus,
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until we realize that,
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we will wear ourselves
out trying to produce results.
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Come with me to the story
in John 21, abandoned ship.
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John 21 and we're going to
walk through just 7 verses.
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It's quite a long story,
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quite a bit
that's included in that.
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And sometimes,
my sermon thoughts
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come out of my
own personal devotion,
00:07:58.51\00:08:01.48
my own personal devotion.
00:08:01.51\00:08:03.45
And during the week
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when my wife and I were reading,
00:08:04.85\00:08:06.18
as I mentioned to you,
you probably heard that
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one of my
favorite devotional books
00:08:08.72\00:08:11.42
outside of Ellen
White's devotional books
00:08:11.45\00:08:14.06
is a man by the
name of Oswald Chambers.
00:08:14.09\00:08:16.89
And Oswald Chambers
has a very classic way
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of approaching
stories in the Bible.
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Am I right, Karen?
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He would sometimes take
a portion of a scripture
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and then unfold it
in such an artichoke way
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that by the time
he gets to the heart
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of the focal point, he
carries you all the way
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and when he gets to the
heart of the focal point,
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you say, "I've never
seen it that way before."
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Let's begin by looking
at how Jesus can accomplish
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the impossible
with the improbable.
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John 21, "After these things,"
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the Bible says,
"Jesus showed Himself again
00:09:01.34\00:09:05.91
to the disciples at
the Sea of Tiberias,"
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after what things,
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after He convinced Thomas
that he was the risen Christ.
00:09:11.15\00:09:15.08
After Thomas'
doubts were evaporated
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with his encounter with Jesus,
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after these things,
Jesus showed Himself again
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to the disciples at
the Sea of Tiberias.
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"And in this way
He showed Himself."
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In this way.
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The setting of the
story is the disciples decided
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to go on a cruise without Jesus.
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But when you study
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the character
of these disciples,
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one thing I've decided to
do in this particular message
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is take a peek at the life
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and the character of
each of these disciples
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that were listed
in this narrative.
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And what I've come up with
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is when you study the characters
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and the life of these disciples,
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it actually encourages me
00:10:00.23\00:10:02.36
that God can accomplish
anything with anybody.
00:10:02.40\00:10:07.30
Amen.
00:10:07.34\00:10:09.50
Look at the
characters in verse 2,
00:10:09.54\00:10:12.27
"Simon Peter, Thomas
called the Twin, Nathanael,"
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who we also know as Bartolomeu,
"of Cana in Galilee,"
00:10:18.28\00:10:23.35
And Cana, the wedding
of Cana, we were there,
00:10:23.39\00:10:26.25
"the sons of
Zebedee," that's James and John,
00:10:26.29\00:10:29.52
"and two others of His
disciples were together."
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These in this particular
passage remain unnamed.
00:10:32.63\00:10:35.96
But we have enough
to go ahead and start
00:10:36.00\00:10:38.00
with
understanding that who we are
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and who we can be...
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will be
determined by our reaction
00:10:45.24\00:10:47.48
to a revelation of Jesus.
00:10:47.51\00:10:49.24
In other words, when
Jesus reveals Himself,
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our reaction to
the revelation of Jesus
00:10:52.75\00:10:54.98
will determine that who we were,
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we no longer have to
be but who we can be,
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we will desire to be like Jesus.
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But consider Simon for a moment.
00:11:05.26\00:11:07.53
According to
historians, Simon was impulsive,
00:11:07.56\00:11:11.13
spontaneous, and reckless.
00:11:11.17\00:11:14.70
Go to Matthew 14:28.
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Look at one of the
ways he was reckless,
00:11:16.20\00:11:19.81
reckless abandonment,
impulsive, spontaneous.
00:11:19.84\00:11:21.64
In other words,
00:11:21.68\00:11:23.01
when all the other disciples
are in a boat with Him,
00:11:23.04\00:11:25.78
Simon would be the one
that would say something
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that nobody else would say.
00:11:27.85\00:11:30.15
He would come up with an idea
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that nobody else
would come up with.
00:11:31.55\00:11:32.89
He would make a
request that nobody else
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in their right
mind would come up with.
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And notice this one
which ended in trouble.
00:11:37.83\00:11:40.73
Matthew 14:28,
00:11:40.76\00:11:42.10
when Jesus was standing on
the waves in an angry moment,
00:11:42.13\00:11:46.27
the Bible says, "And
Simon and Peter answered Him
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and said, 'Lord, if
it is You," verse 28,
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Matthew 14:28,
"And Peter answered Him
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and said, 'Lord, if
it is You," do what?
00:11:58.35\00:12:02.48
"Command me to come
to You on the water."
00:12:02.52\00:12:06.49
Can I make a point at
this venture in the sermon?
00:12:06.52\00:12:11.26
When you are walking with Jesus,
00:12:11.29\00:12:13.90
don't allow the
challenges of your faith
00:12:13.93\00:12:17.20
to add an if as
it relates to Jesus.
00:12:17.23\00:12:21.64
If you are able,
00:12:21.67\00:12:23.00
the Lord
sometimes does not respond
00:12:23.04\00:12:26.37
to our requests
because He knows exactly
00:12:26.41\00:12:29.48
what is needed for us
to get a deeper revelation
00:12:29.51\00:12:33.05
of who He is if you
are impulsive Peter.
00:12:33.08\00:12:38.05
Peter was also cowardly,
unreliable, and erratic.
00:12:38.09\00:12:43.83
Look at Matthew 26:74.
00:12:43.86\00:12:47.20
Matthew 26:74,
impulsive, spontaneous,
00:12:47.23\00:12:50.97
and reckless on one side
00:12:51.00\00:12:52.87
but cowardly, unreliable,
and erratic on the other side.
00:12:52.90\00:12:57.57
You remember when Peter
was standing with Christ,
00:12:57.61\00:13:00.84
he says, "I'm willing
to go all the way with You.
00:13:00.88\00:13:04.45
I'm willing to die for You."
00:13:04.48\00:13:07.95
But let me tell you something,
be careful what you declare
00:13:07.98\00:13:10.95
because when you
declare something,
00:13:10.99\00:13:12.89
the Lord will put
you to the test to see
00:13:12.92\00:13:14.76
whether your declaration
can be transferred into action.
00:13:14.79\00:13:19.89
Don't make a declaration
00:13:19.93\00:13:21.26
that you are not
willing to live up to.
00:13:21.30\00:13:23.73
Because when
they identified Peter
00:13:23.77\00:13:25.20
as being one of the disciples,
00:13:25.23\00:13:26.57
notice his reaction
"This cowardly, unreliable man
00:13:26.60\00:13:30.47
who also is spontaneous,
impulsive, and reckless,"
00:13:30.51\00:13:33.11
At the moment when
Jesus needed a witness
00:13:33.14\00:13:35.58
to stand in His behalf,
00:13:35.61\00:13:37.08
notice how Peter
distances himself
00:13:37.11\00:13:40.18
from the one he claimed to love.
00:13:40.22\00:13:42.48
The Bible says, "Then
he began to do," what?
00:13:42.52\00:13:45.19
Verse 74, he began to do what?
00:13:45.22\00:13:47.12
"Curse and swear,
saying, 'I don't know the Man!'"
00:13:47.16\00:13:51.83
Now I want to pause here
and just bring out something
00:13:51.86\00:13:53.60
that you may not
have caught before
00:13:53.63\00:13:54.96
because I liked it,
when I preach a message,
00:13:55.00\00:13:56.60
when I share a
sermon in the Bible,
00:13:56.63\00:13:58.50
I like to learn something new.
00:13:58.53\00:14:02.84
Not new for the sake of new
00:14:02.87\00:14:04.21
but I like to
learn something new.
00:14:04.24\00:14:05.71
And when you study the story,
00:14:05.74\00:14:07.31
when Jesus later asked
Peter after Peter was restored,
00:14:07.34\00:14:10.35
after the resurrection
when Jesus asked Peter,
00:14:10.38\00:14:14.92
"Do you love Me? Do you love Me?
00:14:14.95\00:14:18.95
Do you love Me?" He
did it how many times?
00:14:18.99\00:14:21.26
Three. Three.
00:14:21.29\00:14:22.62
The reason why He
did it three times
00:14:22.66\00:14:24.56
is because Peter was asked
three times if he knew Jesus.
00:14:24.59\00:14:31.53
"You look like
one of His disciples."
00:14:31.57\00:14:33.94
"I'm not him.
00:14:33.97\00:14:36.60
Your speech
betrays you, I'm not him.
00:14:36.64\00:14:39.97
I don't know the..."
00:14:40.01\00:14:41.54
But you look just like...
00:14:41.58\00:14:42.91
"I'm not him," and
that's when he began to curse
00:14:42.94\00:14:44.81
and swear that he did
not know who Jesus is.
00:14:44.85\00:14:49.02
The Lord will take
you through your failures.
00:14:49.05\00:14:54.16
And show you your need.
00:14:54.19\00:14:58.03
The Lord in the
presence of the other disciples
00:14:58.06\00:15:01.23
questioned Peter's
determination to be faithful.
00:15:01.26\00:15:05.10
And when Peter
failed the Lord publicly,
00:15:05.13\00:15:08.74
the Lord wanted Peter
00:15:08.77\00:15:10.14
to profess his
dedication to God publicly.
00:15:10.17\00:15:13.88
So in the presence
of the other disciples,
00:15:13.91\00:15:16.81
Jesus is questioning Peter,
00:15:16.85\00:15:18.41
"Do you love Me
more than these?"
00:15:18.45\00:15:21.68
In other words, these
guys you always hangout with.
00:15:21.72\00:15:24.62
Do you love Me more
than you love these?"
00:15:24.65\00:15:27.46
And he asked him
three times and you know
00:15:27.49\00:15:30.99
Lord, he got to the place,
Lord, you know I love You.
00:15:31.03\00:15:34.63
Let me tell You something,
00:15:34.66\00:15:36.00
God will take you back
to the failures of your life
00:15:36.03\00:15:40.40
until your love
for Jesus is genuine.
00:15:40.44\00:15:43.14
Amen.
00:15:43.17\00:15:45.77
Because it's easy
to say we love Him
00:15:45.81\00:15:49.51
but when the trials
and the challenges come,
00:15:49.54\00:15:52.55
what we profess
00:15:52.58\00:15:54.58
and what we are willing
to perform in our lives...
00:15:54.62\00:15:59.05
There's a difference
between what we profess
00:15:59.09\00:16:01.56
and what we actually
perform in our lives.
00:16:01.59\00:16:04.36
The good news is although
he was cowardly, unreliable,
00:16:04.39\00:16:07.40
erratic, impulsive,
spontaneous, and reckless,
00:16:07.43\00:16:09.86
when the Lord
got a hold of Peter,
00:16:09.90\00:16:12.23
the same theologian said,
00:16:12.27\00:16:13.87
"Peter became courageous
in the face of scrutiny,
00:16:13.90\00:16:17.27
unyielding to popular opinion
00:16:17.31\00:16:19.41
and faithful
despite the dangers."
00:16:19.44\00:16:21.74
Can you say amen?
00:16:21.78\00:16:23.24
He was the man
00:16:23.28\00:16:24.61
that Jesus chose to
preach on the day of Pentecost.
00:16:24.65\00:16:28.48
This man who knew
what repentance was,
00:16:28.52\00:16:30.65
was the first one to
say, "Repent and be baptized.
00:16:30.69\00:16:33.82
Repent and be
converted." You know why?
00:16:33.86\00:16:36.39
For the first time he
could proclaim repentance
00:16:36.42\00:16:38.56
because he repented.
00:16:38.59\00:16:41.56
For the first
time he could proclaim
00:16:41.60\00:16:43.73
the need to be converted,
00:16:43.77\00:16:46.53
for the Holy Spirit
to come into our lives.
00:16:46.57\00:16:49.20
And let me make a point here.
00:16:49.24\00:16:51.84
When you are
converted, when you do repent,
00:16:51.87\00:16:56.81
you make room for the
working of the Holy Spirit.
00:16:56.85\00:17:00.58
But until we get to
the place where we repent,
00:17:00.62\00:17:02.82
there is no room
for the Holy Spirit
00:17:02.85\00:17:05.15
to work in our lives.
00:17:05.19\00:17:06.52
We are working
based on sheer emotion,
00:17:06.55\00:17:08.72
sheer ability, and sheer skill.
00:17:08.76\00:17:10.83
But when we put skill, and
emotion, and ability aside,
00:17:10.86\00:17:14.60
and make room for
the Holy Spirit to work,
00:17:14.63\00:17:16.87
there is no limit...
00:17:16.90\00:17:22.40
of the usefulness
when putting self aside,
00:17:22.44\00:17:26.68
we make room for the
working of the Holy Spirit.
00:17:26.71\00:17:28.71
There is no
limit to what we can do
00:17:28.74\00:17:30.81
when we make room
for the Holy Spirit.
00:17:30.85\00:17:32.41
Amen? Amen.
00:17:32.45\00:17:33.78
And let's go back
to the story, verse 3.
00:17:33.82\00:17:36.48
Verse 3.
00:17:36.52\00:17:37.85
That was just
fodder for the beginning.
00:17:37.89\00:17:41.02
Verse 3 of John 21.
00:17:41.06\00:17:46.26
Jesus is on the shore,
the evening is coming in,
00:17:46.29\00:17:50.23
the sun is setting,
00:17:50.27\00:17:52.73
and Simon who always
has something to say,
00:17:52.77\00:17:55.97
notice what he says.
00:17:56.00\00:17:57.47
Verse 3.
00:17:57.51\00:17:58.91
"Simon Peter said to
them, 'I'm going fishing.'
00:17:58.94\00:18:04.15
And they said to him,
'We are going with you also.'
00:18:04.18\00:18:09.35
And they went out
00:18:09.38\00:18:10.72
and immediately
got into the boat
00:18:10.75\00:18:14.06
and that night
they caught," what?
00:18:14.09\00:18:16.99
As fishermen they
understood the craft of fishing,
00:18:23.16\00:18:28.74
but they did not understand
the commander of the sea.
00:18:28.77\00:18:32.37
What I've learned when I
read that particular chapter,
00:18:32.41\00:18:35.34
I've learned that
the actions, our work,
00:18:35.38\00:18:38.55
and our efforts,
any action, any work,
00:18:38.58\00:18:41.35
or any effort that
does not include Jesus
00:18:41.38\00:18:44.42
always results in nothing.
00:18:44.45\00:18:47.66
And how much? Nothing.
00:18:47.69\00:18:52.06
Whatever happened... Nothing.
00:18:52.09\00:18:54.53
I thought you... Nothing.
00:18:54.56\00:18:56.93
Everything we do,
00:18:56.97\00:18:58.50
the prerequisite to any success
that we can ever experience
00:18:58.53\00:19:02.64
is Jesus has to be
00:19:02.67\00:19:04.11
in the center of
everything we do.
00:19:04.14\00:19:09.94
These men knew the sea,
00:19:09.98\00:19:11.31
but they did not know
the commander of the sea.
00:19:11.35\00:19:13.55
They had the
experience with the sea,
00:19:13.58\00:19:15.15
but what they needed
was experience with Jesus.
00:19:15.18\00:19:18.69
They understood the craft,
00:19:18.72\00:19:20.89
but they did not understand
00:19:20.92\00:19:22.32
how the God of all possibilities
00:19:22.36\00:19:25.99
was about to
work in their lives.
00:19:26.03\00:19:28.16
That's why you have to
keep in mind experience
00:19:28.20\00:19:29.96
is the poor
substitute for God's providence.
00:19:30.00\00:19:34.27
Experience is a poor
substitute for God's providence.
00:19:34.30\00:19:38.97
Sometime you will discover
that the greatest barrier
00:19:39.01\00:19:41.91
between you and being effective
00:19:41.94\00:19:43.91
in the work of
God is experience.
00:19:43.95\00:19:46.11
Let me develop
that very quickly.
00:19:46.15\00:19:47.95
You see, that's the
reason why the Lord didn't come,
00:19:47.98\00:19:49.88
that's the reason why
He didn't choose the men
00:19:49.92\00:19:51.75
that knew so much,
that's why He didn't go,
00:19:51.79\00:19:55.06
that's why the
men in the church,
00:19:55.09\00:19:56.42
the Pharisees, the
Sadducees the Scribes,
00:19:56.46\00:19:58.09
the Essenes, the leaders,
00:19:58.13\00:19:59.59
the men that
were well qualified,
00:19:59.63\00:20:01.30
the Lord couldn't do hardly
00:20:01.33\00:20:02.86
anything with them
because they knew too much.
00:20:02.90\00:20:07.94
He had to choose men
00:20:07.97\00:20:09.30
that didn't know
anything about theology,
00:20:09.34\00:20:11.27
that never preached a sermon,
00:20:11.31\00:20:13.31
did not even
understand what the torah was.
00:20:13.34\00:20:16.88
He had to choose men that
were at the base of society,
00:20:16.91\00:20:19.28
men that were
cussing, drinking, smoking...
00:20:19.31\00:20:24.75
And you thought, Lord,
can't you do better than that?
00:20:24.79\00:20:27.36
Well, let me tell you something,
00:20:27.39\00:20:28.72
the Lord looks at the
heart, not just at the exterior.
00:20:28.76\00:20:34.50
He doesn't look at the
qualifications on paper.
00:20:34.53\00:20:36.80
He looks at the
possibilities in the life.
00:20:36.83\00:20:39.80
He doesn't just get us
00:20:39.83\00:20:41.17
because we have
qualified ourselves.
00:20:41.20\00:20:42.70
He likes to go to
those who are pretty empty,
00:20:42.74\00:20:44.87
so He can fill them up.
00:20:44.91\00:20:46.24
Because oftentimes, when
we are filled with ourselves,
00:20:46.27\00:20:51.61
the Lord can do
very little with lives
00:20:51.65\00:20:54.75
that are filled with themselves.
00:20:54.78\00:20:58.55
These men understood the sea,
00:20:58.59\00:20:59.92
but they did not
know the commander.
00:20:59.95\00:21:01.42
They had the experience,
00:21:01.46\00:21:02.79
but they did not have
the experience with Jesus.
00:21:02.82\00:21:05.13
So up until this point,
00:21:05.16\00:21:06.59
they just had a
half-hearted devotion.
00:21:06.63\00:21:09.36
They knew what to do,
00:21:09.40\00:21:11.80
but they did not know
that the key to any success
00:21:11.83\00:21:14.57
is not what to do
00:21:14.60\00:21:16.27
but who is involved
of accomplishing it.
00:21:16.30\00:21:19.74
And they had what I
call half-hearted devotion,
00:21:19.77\00:21:22.14
which is, in fact, the
same as no devotion at all.
00:21:22.18\00:21:24.81
Consider the words of Christ,
three very quick scriptures,
00:21:24.85\00:21:27.35
go with me to Matthew 12:30.
00:21:27.38\00:21:29.38
This is why
half-hearted devotion
00:21:29.42\00:21:31.15
never accomplishes anything.
00:21:31.19\00:21:34.72
Half-hearted devotion
never accomplishes anything.
00:21:34.76\00:21:38.26
Notice how Jesus says that...
00:21:38.29\00:21:40.33
Jesus is the all
or nothing master,
00:21:40.36\00:21:44.30
it's not some but
it's all or nothing.
00:21:44.33\00:21:48.77
Notice these
very powerful words.
00:21:48.80\00:21:50.74
Matthew 12:30, the Bible says,
00:21:50.77\00:21:53.58
"He who is not
with Me is," where?
00:21:53.61\00:21:56.48
"Against Me, and he who
does not gather with Me,"
00:21:56.51\00:21:59.68
does what?
00:21:59.71\00:22:01.05
"Scatters abroad."
It is all or nothing.
00:22:01.08\00:22:04.22
Amen, Louis? It
is all or nothing.
00:22:04.25\00:22:07.09
There is no
gathering, a little with,
00:22:07.12\00:22:09.26
there is no being
with Me partially.
00:22:09.29\00:22:11.73
"He who is not
with Me is against Me."
00:22:11.76\00:22:13.66
Notice that when you
talk about discipleship,
00:22:13.70\00:22:16.30
there is no third category.
00:22:16.33\00:22:19.03
Let's go to
another one, Luke 9:62.
00:22:19.07\00:22:21.47
Luke 9:62, turn
there with me. Luke 9...
00:22:21.50\00:22:28.11
I like to hear the
Bible pages turning.
00:22:28.14\00:22:30.38
Luke 9:62.
00:22:30.41\00:22:33.75
"But Jesus said to him,"
00:22:33.78\00:22:35.72
talking about complete devotion,
00:22:35.75\00:22:37.89
"no one," how many, church?
00:22:37.92\00:22:40.86
"No one, having put
his hand to the plow,
00:22:40.89\00:22:43.32
and looking back, is
fit for the kingdom of God."
00:22:43.36\00:22:48.13
No one.
00:22:48.16\00:22:49.50
So when the Lord calls
you just like Lot's wife,
00:22:49.53\00:22:52.13
don't look back
00:22:52.17\00:22:54.04
because when you
begin to look back
00:22:54.07\00:22:56.71
you are not fit
for the kingdom of God.
00:22:56.74\00:22:58.91
And we know that at
certain points in our lives,
00:22:58.94\00:23:01.41
not only have we looked back...
00:23:01.44\00:23:05.15
But we began to live
like we did in the past.
00:23:05.18\00:23:10.79
And finally one
more, Matthew 10:37.
00:23:10.82\00:23:13.62
Now this is a
powerful scripture,
00:23:13.66\00:23:17.33
not that they all are not
00:23:17.36\00:23:18.69
but this one goes to
the cellular position
00:23:18.73\00:23:22.70
of why relationships,
00:23:22.73\00:23:24.93
parental relationships,
temporary relationships,
00:23:24.97\00:23:28.00
family relationships
don't allow any of them
00:23:28.04\00:23:30.51
to get in the way
00:23:30.54\00:23:32.51
of complete dedication to Jesus.
00:23:32.54\00:23:35.38
Matthew 10:37, the Bible says,
00:23:35.41\00:23:37.38
"He who loves father or
mother more than Me is," what?
00:23:37.41\00:23:41.55
"Not worthy of Me.
00:23:41.58\00:23:42.92
And he who loves son or daughter
00:23:42.95\00:23:45.65
more than Me is," what?
00:23:45.69\00:23:48.16
"Not worthy of Me."
00:23:48.19\00:23:51.59
Commitment to
Jesus cannot be limited
00:23:51.63\00:23:54.33
by personal preferences.
00:23:54.36\00:23:57.17
That would mean that we are Lord
00:23:57.20\00:23:59.43
and He is following us.
00:23:59.47\00:24:01.44
But it says in Luke
6:46, "Why call Me Lord, Lord
00:24:01.47\00:24:04.61
and do not do the
things which I say?"
00:24:04.64\00:24:06.57
And I've learned and I
have discovered more and more
00:24:06.61\00:24:10.05
that the more we put aside self,
00:24:10.08\00:24:12.18
the more room Christ
has to work in our lives.
00:24:12.21\00:24:16.32
The more we begin to cut-off
00:24:16.35\00:24:17.69
the things that
got our attention,
00:24:17.72\00:24:20.69
the things that we
put our energies in,
00:24:20.72\00:24:22.86
and our faith, and our trust in,
00:24:22.89\00:24:24.39
when we get to the place
00:24:24.43\00:24:26.16
where we are
willing to give our all,
00:24:26.19\00:24:27.66
He even makes it even clearer
00:24:27.70\00:24:29.93
because some people
when they think about Jesus,
00:24:29.96\00:24:32.20
and I've heard
people ask me this.
00:24:32.23\00:24:33.57
They said, "Pastor,
00:24:33.60\00:24:34.94
what do I have to give
up to join your church?"
00:24:34.97\00:24:37.04
You've heard me say that before.
00:24:37.07\00:24:38.97
And I said, "Brother,
you don't give up anything.
00:24:39.01\00:24:40.68
Matter of fact,
you get everything
00:24:40.71\00:24:42.61
when you follow Jesus."
00:24:42.64\00:24:44.38
Look at Matthew 19:29.
00:24:44.41\00:24:47.08
Some people think
of Jesus as a taker
00:24:47.12\00:24:50.02
but Jesus is a giver.
00:24:50.05\00:24:52.22
He is not a taker.
00:24:52.25\00:24:53.59
Amen, somebody? Amen.
00:24:53.62\00:24:55.22
You know that Jesus has
been blessing your life,
00:24:55.26\00:24:57.19
He is not a taker.
00:24:57.23\00:24:58.66
If He takes anything,
00:24:58.69\00:25:00.06
He only takes
what's not good for us.
00:25:00.10\00:25:03.63
But He gives us
something far greater
00:25:03.67\00:25:06.40
than what we are used to have.
00:25:06.43\00:25:08.24
Matthew 19:29, the Bible says,
"And everyone," and how many?
00:25:08.27\00:25:13.51
"Everyone who has," notice this,
00:25:13.54\00:25:15.91
look at all the connections,
00:25:15.94\00:25:17.41
"left houses or
brothers or sisters or fathers
00:25:17.45\00:25:23.72
or mother or wife
or children or lands,
00:25:23.75\00:25:29.19
for My name's sake,
shall receive," what?
00:25:29.22\00:25:35.13
"A hundredfold, and
inherit eternal life."
00:25:35.16\00:25:40.84
That's some serious connections.
00:25:40.87\00:25:42.97
Some people are
tied to their house,
00:25:43.00\00:25:46.24
some people are tied to
their brothers and sisters,
00:25:46.27\00:25:48.51
their family.
00:25:48.54\00:25:49.88
My wife and I
used to be like that.
00:25:49.91\00:25:51.25
We didn't have a house,
we still don't own a house
00:25:51.28\00:25:54.08
but when we made our
decision to be in the ministry,
00:25:54.12\00:25:55.75
we were tied to family.
00:25:55.78\00:25:57.12
We said, "Lord, we'll go
anywhere but California."
00:25:57.15\00:25:59.25
You know why? Because
we were tied to family.
00:25:59.29\00:26:02.72
But the Lord had to
separate us from family.
00:26:02.76\00:26:06.03
He had to separate us
from the people that knew us,
00:26:06.06\00:26:09.13
so that we
could get to know Him.
00:26:09.16\00:26:12.43
Brothers, mothers,
00:26:12.47\00:26:15.17
children, wife, any lands,
00:26:15.20\00:26:19.84
possessions, if
you are not willing
00:26:19.87\00:26:22.01
to get rid of
any of those things,
00:26:22.04\00:26:24.65
you'll never
inherit eternal life
00:26:24.68\00:26:26.48
and the other thing about it,
00:26:26.51\00:26:27.85
you will never be able to
get more than what you have.
00:26:27.88\00:26:30.62
And in particular, this
was to the rich young ruler
00:26:30.65\00:26:33.09
because when Jesus had
laid down the perimeters
00:26:33.12\00:26:35.22
for the rich young ruler,
00:26:35.26\00:26:36.59
He says, "Sell all that
you have and follow Me."
00:26:36.62\00:26:39.43
And Peter said,
"Lord, that's a hard saying."
00:26:39.46\00:26:41.56
Who then can be saved
00:26:41.60\00:26:43.23
and the Lord had to let Peter
know he is not losing anything,
00:26:43.26\00:26:47.57
the little he
has will be replaced
00:26:47.60\00:26:50.34
with the abundance that I have.
00:26:50.37\00:26:53.98
Be willing to give it all.
00:26:54.01\00:26:56.18
Anything or
anyone that's preferred
00:26:56.21\00:26:58.38
above Christ is selfish.
00:26:58.41\00:27:01.42
Matter of fact, a man by
the name of Luis Morris wrote,
00:27:01.45\00:27:03.95
"You can always
tell when a person
00:27:03.99\00:27:06.35
is selfish and well-informed
00:27:06.39\00:27:08.62
because his views are
pretty much your own."
00:27:08.66\00:27:11.96
When a person agrees with you,
00:27:11.99\00:27:14.46
we often say, "He
is well-informed."
00:27:14.50\00:27:16.83
What I want to be able
to do is agree with Jesus,
00:27:16.87\00:27:18.50
what do you say?
00:27:18.53\00:27:20.00
This self-centered world.
00:27:20.04\00:27:24.51
A selfish man died
00:27:24.54\00:27:25.87
and on his
tombstone was the epitaph,
00:27:25.91\00:27:30.21
"Be yourself is
about the worst advice
00:27:30.25\00:27:33.58
you can give to some people"
00:27:33.62\00:27:37.29
when he wants us
to be like Jesus,
00:27:37.32\00:27:39.85
be yourself in the
self-centered world.
00:27:39.89\00:27:42.59
Let me insult your sensibilities
00:27:42.62\00:27:44.79
for a brief moment.
00:27:44.83\00:27:46.16
You know, Christians
are rightfully offended
00:27:46.19\00:27:47.70
that there is so
much profanity in society.
00:27:47.73\00:27:49.60
Amen, somebody?
00:27:49.63\00:27:51.73
But what Christians
fail to realize is the first,
00:27:51.77\00:27:54.34
the worst four
letter word is self
00:27:54.37\00:28:00.31
'cause self will
do more to condemn us
00:28:00.34\00:28:04.15
than anything else.
00:28:04.18\00:28:07.12
And what Christ was trying to do
00:28:07.15\00:28:08.48
was get self out of the way.
00:28:08.52\00:28:11.25
But the disciples were fighting
with parameters of worship,
00:28:11.29\00:28:15.66
fighting with the parameters
of dedication to Christ.
00:28:15.69\00:28:18.49
The parameters
were not the parameters
00:28:18.53\00:28:20.56
that Jesus was establishing.
00:28:20.60\00:28:22.36
You see, you can be a member
00:28:22.40\00:28:23.80
but a member means
we belong to each other.
00:28:23.83\00:28:26.67
A disciple means
we belong to Christ.
00:28:26.70\00:28:29.90
And when you
decide to be a disciple,
00:28:29.94\00:28:32.44
it's a step higher
than just being a member.
00:28:32.47\00:28:35.41
Discipleship is
following somebody
00:28:35.44\00:28:37.51
beyond your point of comfort.
00:28:37.55\00:28:39.75
But membership simply
means you are part of the group.
00:28:39.78\00:28:44.52
When the Lord gets
a hold of your life,
00:28:44.55\00:28:46.15
He takes you from
membership to discipleship.
00:28:46.19\00:28:48.39
Look at Mark,
look at Matthew 16:24.
00:28:48.42\00:28:52.06
Matthew 16:24.
00:28:52.09\00:28:55.76
Talking about total
dedication, total dedication.
00:28:55.80\00:29:02.70
The Bible says, "Then
Jesus said to His disciples,"
00:29:02.74\00:29:04.94
what did He say?
00:29:04.97\00:29:06.41
"If anyone desires to come
after Me, let him," do what?
00:29:06.44\00:29:09.98
Let him do what?
00:29:10.01\00:29:11.35
"Deny himself, and take
up his cross, and follow Me."
00:29:11.38\00:29:17.59
Denial of self means
the cross is ahead of us
00:29:17.62\00:29:22.06
but after the
cross comes the crown.
00:29:22.09\00:29:29.06
When I work on my sermons,
00:29:29.10\00:29:30.43
a lot of times,
my wife is reading.
00:29:30.47\00:29:33.37
And there was a
quotation she read last night
00:29:33.40\00:29:35.57
which I just
took a portion of it
00:29:35.60\00:29:37.24
from the book Desire of Ages.
00:29:37.27\00:29:38.94
And it was an amazing quotation.
00:29:38.97\00:29:40.51
The reason why discipleship
is so widely important
00:29:40.54\00:29:43.08
as Jesus says, "Follow Me."
00:29:43.11\00:29:45.25
Tell me again, "Follow Me."
00:29:45.28\00:29:47.68
Following Jesus
is widely important.
00:29:47.72\00:29:50.49
Understand carefully
00:29:50.52\00:29:52.02
because when we
run ahead of Jesus,
00:29:52.05\00:29:54.09
servant of the Lord says,
"When we run ahead of Jesus,"
00:29:54.12\00:29:57.16
This is powerful,
"When we run ahead of Him,
00:29:57.19\00:30:00.16
we face Satan before He does.
00:30:00.20\00:30:04.47
But when we follow Him,
He faces Satan before we do."
00:30:04.50\00:30:11.44
If we run ahead of
Him, we'll come in contact
00:30:11.47\00:30:13.94
with Satan before He gets there.
00:30:13.98\00:30:17.08
But if He is the one
leading and we're following Him,
00:30:17.11\00:30:19.51
He faces Satan before us.
00:30:19.55\00:30:22.55
I want to keep in step
with Jesus, what about you?
00:30:22.58\00:30:25.12
Amen.
00:30:25.15\00:30:26.49
It makes a difference
between what our experience is
00:30:26.52\00:30:31.63
and what it can be,
keeping in step with Jesus.
00:30:31.66\00:30:35.66
Now let's get to the
story and wind it up.
00:30:35.70\00:30:38.97
John 21:4-5,
00:30:39.00\00:30:41.50
they were fishing all night
00:30:41.54\00:30:43.81
and they came up
with absolutely nothing.
00:30:43.84\00:30:47.31
But at the
intersection of our failures,
00:30:47.34\00:30:50.18
then Jesus shows up.
00:30:50.21\00:30:53.55
Look at John 21:4-5,
00:30:53.58\00:30:56.75
at the intersection of failure,
00:30:56.79\00:30:59.32
Jesus shows up.
00:30:59.35\00:31:02.79
"But when the
morning had now come,
00:31:02.82\00:31:06.39
Jesus stood on the shore,
00:31:06.43\00:31:09.83
yet the disciples did
not know that it was Jesus.
00:31:09.86\00:31:13.77
Then Jesus said to them,
00:31:13.80\00:31:16.00
'Children, do
you have any food?'
00:31:16.04\00:31:18.81
And they answered," what?
00:31:18.84\00:31:20.34
"No."
00:31:20.38\00:31:22.94
At the
intersection of our failures,
00:31:22.98\00:31:25.58
Jesus shows up.
00:31:25.61\00:31:26.95
But when did He show up,
00:31:26.98\00:31:28.32
He showed up at the
night or in the morning?
00:31:28.35\00:31:30.95
The morning is
synonymous to Jesus
00:31:30.99\00:31:32.79
replacing our
darkness with His light.
00:31:32.82\00:31:34.96
Jesus is shedding
light on our circumstances,
00:31:34.99\00:31:37.46
on our situation.
00:31:37.49\00:31:38.83
And the gap between our
failure and our blessing
00:31:38.86\00:31:41.16
is quite narrow
00:31:41.20\00:31:42.53
because what Jesus
tells them to do next
00:31:42.56\00:31:45.87
you'd think that they could
have figured it out themselves.
00:31:45.90\00:31:47.90
Look at verse
6. Look at verse 6.
00:31:47.94\00:31:52.94
And He said to
them and by this way,
00:31:52.97\00:31:54.64
by now they still
don't know it's Jesus.
00:31:54.68\00:32:00.62
"And He said to them,
00:32:00.65\00:32:02.22
'Cast the net on
the,'" what side?
00:32:02.25\00:32:05.29
"'On the right side of the boat,
00:32:05.32\00:32:07.82
and you will find some.'
00:32:07.86\00:32:10.93
So they cast, and now they
were not able to draw it in
00:32:10.96\00:32:14.10
because of the
multitude of fish."
00:32:14.13\00:32:18.43
Now I want to take
you back, are you ready?
00:32:18.47\00:32:22.00
I want to take you back
00:32:22.04\00:32:23.37
to show you what
just happened there.
00:32:23.41\00:32:26.37
We read in few verses earlier,
just in case you missed it,
00:32:26.41\00:32:32.15
Peter's failure
began with the word
00:32:32.18\00:32:35.05
or with the
statement "I am going fishing."
00:32:35.08\00:32:38.99
Who's going? Who's going?
00:32:39.02\00:32:41.72
"I am going.
00:32:41.76\00:32:43.09
I am in charge
of my destination.
00:32:43.12\00:32:44.46
I'm in charge of my journey."
00:32:44.49\00:32:46.19
The disciple's
failure began with the phrase,
00:32:46.23\00:32:49.63
"We are going with you."
00:32:49.66\00:32:54.17
They both decided
without asking Jesus
00:32:54.20\00:32:56.87
where to go fishing
and how to go fishing.
00:32:56.91\00:33:01.41
They went on
their own recognizance.
00:33:01.44\00:33:03.75
They made up their own minds.
00:33:03.78\00:33:06.11
They decided their own journey,
00:33:06.15\00:33:08.22
"I'm going," "We are going."
00:33:08.25\00:33:11.22
But I want you to understand
00:33:11.25\00:33:13.25
the success
that they experienced
00:33:13.29\00:33:17.19
was preceded with
the salutation "he said."
00:33:17.23\00:33:21.96
Now I got to say that again.
00:33:22.00\00:33:24.47
Peter said, "I'm going,"
00:33:24.50\00:33:25.87
the disciple
says, "We're going."
00:33:25.90\00:33:28.04
But when Jesus said,
when Jesus came to them
00:33:28.07\00:33:31.11
and spoke and they
heard the words, "he said."
00:33:31.14\00:33:35.78
It is only then that
they experienced success
00:33:35.81\00:33:39.88
in their lives.
00:33:39.91\00:33:41.58
Do I need to unpack that?
00:33:41.62\00:33:42.98
Whenever we follow a "he said",
00:33:43.02\00:33:45.02
come on, whenever
we follow a "he said",
00:33:45.05\00:33:48.56
it is the
precursor to our success
00:33:48.59\00:33:50.73
not "I am" or "we are"
00:33:50.76\00:33:53.26
but what does he want us to
do when we follow a "he said."
00:33:53.29\00:33:57.27
Amen.
00:33:57.30\00:33:58.63
It's a precursor to success.
00:33:58.67\00:34:00.00
Amen, somebody? Did you get it?
00:34:00.04\00:34:01.67
We could do
whatever we want to do
00:34:01.70\00:34:03.30
but oftentimes we find ourselves
00:34:03.34\00:34:05.24
at the point of
nothing, no results, failure
00:34:05.27\00:34:08.98
because it's what we want to do.
00:34:09.01\00:34:12.45
"I am", "we are",
00:34:12.48\00:34:14.75
but Jesus comes
at the intersection
00:34:14.78\00:34:16.48
of their failure
and says, "He said."
00:34:16.52\00:34:18.89
And when he said,
00:34:18.92\00:34:20.56
they cast their
net on the right side.
00:34:20.59\00:34:23.93
Understand this carefully,
00:34:23.96\00:34:25.29
the right side is not only
the opposite of the left side
00:34:25.33\00:34:28.16
but the right side is the
contrast to the wrong side.
00:34:28.20\00:34:34.47
Sometimes people think they
are doing the right thing...
00:34:34.50\00:34:37.24
When success is that far away.
00:34:41.44\00:34:45.45
They were not in a ship, I
used the word "abandon ship"
00:34:45.48\00:34:48.92
because it sounded
good, they were not in a ship,
00:34:48.95\00:34:52.05
they were in a
boat, a fisherman's boat,
00:34:52.09\00:34:56.36
which at best could have been
about 12-feet or 9-feet wide
00:34:56.39\00:35:02.00
for the number of men
that they had on that ship
00:35:02.03\00:35:03.63
or that boat.
00:35:03.67\00:35:05.27
And the
difference between failure...
00:35:05.30\00:35:07.30
They cast on the left
side, the side of failure.
00:35:07.34\00:35:12.67
That's why in the
scriptures you find, always,
00:35:12.71\00:35:14.81
the sheep are on the right side,
00:35:14.84\00:35:16.95
the goat on the left.
00:35:16.98\00:35:18.35
He set the saved on the
right, the lost on the left.
00:35:18.38\00:35:21.62
When they cast their
net on the right side,
00:35:21.65\00:35:24.75
they experienced the success
that the Lord always knew
00:35:24.79\00:35:28.22
that they could have
but He was the difference.
00:35:28.26\00:35:30.89
They had to do it the
way that Jesus said to do it.
00:35:30.93\00:35:33.93
Amen. Do it the right way.
00:35:33.96\00:35:39.80
That's why David the
psalmist said in Psalms 33:4,
00:35:39.83\00:35:43.10
"The Word of the Lord is right
00:35:43.14\00:35:45.97
and all His work
is done in truth."
00:35:46.01\00:35:48.61
"The Word of the Lord is right
00:35:48.64\00:35:51.01
and all His word
is done in truth."
00:35:51.05\00:35:54.18
When we do it the right way,
00:35:54.22\00:35:56.69
when we do it
according to God's Word,
00:35:56.72\00:35:59.49
there will be a change in
our personal devotion to Jesus.
00:35:59.52\00:36:03.16
Amen?
00:36:03.19\00:36:04.53
Now you know the reason
00:36:04.56\00:36:05.89
why there is not often
change in our personal devotion,
00:36:05.93\00:36:07.66
let me wind it up with this.
00:36:07.70\00:36:09.03
You know why there is no
change in our devotion to Jesus?
00:36:09.06\00:36:12.67
It's because just
like the disciples,
00:36:12.70\00:36:16.81
we listen to the words of Jesus,
00:36:16.84\00:36:20.44
but it doesn't prompt
any action in our lives.
00:36:20.48\00:36:23.75
The story said when
Jesus gave the command,
00:36:28.18\00:36:32.75
the Bible said, "They cast."
00:36:32.79\00:36:35.16
What did it say? "They cast."
00:36:35.19\00:36:41.33
Success was on the right side,
00:36:41.36\00:36:42.70
but there was
something that they had to do,
00:36:42.73\00:36:44.23
they had to respond to
the directive of Jesus.
00:36:44.27\00:36:47.30
When the Lord says,
00:36:47.34\00:36:48.67
"Put the net on the right side,"
00:36:48.70\00:36:50.04
what did they
have to do, they cast.
00:36:50.07\00:36:52.67
They had to cast
something forward
00:36:52.71\00:36:54.61
in order to
experience the successes
00:36:54.64\00:36:57.28
that Jesus had said
they could experience
00:36:57.31\00:37:00.58
they cast.
00:37:00.62\00:37:01.98
The Word of God
always requires an action.
00:37:02.02\00:37:07.52
Always an action.
00:37:07.56\00:37:08.89
You never get to the
place of reading God's Word
00:37:08.92\00:37:10.39
that He does not
challenge you to do something.
00:37:10.43\00:37:12.79
In the Bible, you
always find three things,
00:37:12.83\00:37:14.70
every scripture you read
00:37:14.73\00:37:16.06
will say
something about the devil,
00:37:16.10\00:37:17.73
it will say
something about Jesus,
00:37:17.77\00:37:19.70
and it will always
leave a requirement for you.
00:37:19.73\00:37:24.11
"They cast."
00:37:24.14\00:37:25.84
They couldn't just listen,
they had to make a decision.
00:37:25.87\00:37:28.28
That's why as we wind up,
00:37:28.31\00:37:29.64
we go to the
decision that they made.
00:37:29.68\00:37:31.48
Let's go down to the
last part of the verse,
00:37:31.51\00:37:33.25
John 21:7.
00:37:33.28\00:37:36.05
John 21.
00:37:36.08\00:37:38.19
I'm going to go right to that,
00:37:38.22\00:37:39.55
John 21:7
because the title is...
00:37:39.59\00:37:44.19
What's the title of the message?
00:37:44.23\00:37:47.03
What's the title of the message?
00:37:47.06\00:37:49.80
Abandoned Ship.
00:37:49.83\00:37:51.17
The question is what
prompted Peter to abandon ship.
00:37:51.20\00:37:53.90
Verse 7. Verse 7.
00:37:53.94\00:38:00.44
To this point, they
still don't know it's Jesus
00:38:00.48\00:38:04.38
but notice who discovers it.
00:38:04.41\00:38:07.28
"Therefore that disciple
whom Jesus loved said to Peter,"
00:38:07.32\00:38:14.06
what did he say?
00:38:14.09\00:38:15.89
"It is the Lord!"
Now this is powerful.
00:38:15.92\00:38:18.89
I mean, I've learned to
understand that the words
00:38:18.93\00:38:20.86
are there with
power in each one of them.
00:38:20.90\00:38:22.56
You know why he
knew it was Lord?
00:38:22.60\00:38:25.33
Because he loved
Jesus. Because what?
00:38:25.37\00:38:30.21
He loved Jesus.
00:38:30.24\00:38:32.71
When you love
Jesus... Did you get that?
00:38:32.74\00:38:35.51
When you love Jesus,
00:38:35.54\00:38:37.68
you are familiar with His voice.
00:38:37.71\00:38:41.15
But here is the pivotal point.
00:38:48.06\00:38:50.66
"Now when Simon Peter
heard that it was the Lord,
00:38:50.69\00:38:56.16
he put on his outer
garment, for he had removed it,"
00:38:56.20\00:39:00.44
the actual Greek
said, "For he was naked."
00:39:00.47\00:39:03.94
"And plunged into the sea."
00:39:03.97\00:39:05.77
He put his clothing on,
00:39:05.81\00:39:07.31
so that when he had
an encounter with Jesus,
00:39:07.34\00:39:09.61
he would not be unclothed.
00:39:09.64\00:39:12.01
He put on his
garment and what did he do?
00:39:12.05\00:39:15.28
He plunged into the sea.
00:39:15.32\00:39:20.32
The Christian journey
is anything but logical.
00:39:20.36\00:39:25.66
But who in their right
mind would plunge into the sea?
00:39:25.69\00:39:29.26
Why did Peter plunge
and not the other disciples?
00:39:29.30\00:39:33.10
This is where
the message winds up,
00:39:33.13\00:39:34.47
why did he plunge?
00:39:34.50\00:39:36.37
You see, Peter
finally reached the place
00:39:36.40\00:39:38.21
where he was willing to do
00:39:38.24\00:39:39.57
whatever it
took to get to Jesus.
00:39:39.61\00:39:42.34
And all he needed to hear,
00:39:42.38\00:39:44.91
listen carefully,
is that it is the Lord.
00:39:44.95\00:39:47.58
When he knew
that it was the Lord,
00:39:47.62\00:39:49.18
Peter recalls because this
was the not the first encounter
00:39:49.22\00:39:51.65
Peter had in a boat.
00:39:51.69\00:39:53.15
If you go back and look
at the chronicle of Peter,
00:39:53.19\00:39:55.16
Peter recalled that in the midst
00:39:55.19\00:39:56.89
of one of the
most ferocious storms
00:39:56.93\00:39:58.93
in Mark chapter 4,
when the storm had come up
00:39:58.96\00:40:01.60
and it was
beating against the boat,
00:40:01.63\00:40:03.40
and the waves were filling
in, and the winds were blowing,
00:40:03.43\00:40:06.74
and the sea was
boisterous all around them,
00:40:06.77\00:40:08.97
in the middle of one
of Peter's worst storms
00:40:09.00\00:40:12.17
when he was
trying to save himself,
00:40:12.21\00:40:15.14
he found Jesus
sleeping in the boat.
00:40:15.18\00:40:18.65
And when he
recalled the Savior's act,
00:40:18.68\00:40:22.42
in the part of his salvation,
00:40:22.45\00:40:24.45
the Lord he
found in the past said,
00:40:24.49\00:40:26.05
"Peace be still"
and the Bible says,
00:40:26.09\00:40:28.09
"There was a great calm."
00:40:28.12\00:40:29.46
So in the moment,
00:40:29.49\00:40:31.19
the Lord brings us back
to those familiar moments.
00:40:31.23\00:40:33.83
Peter
remembered, "Wait a minute,
00:40:33.86\00:40:35.20
I was in a
situation like this before."
00:40:35.23\00:40:37.00
And the Lord stilled the waves,
00:40:37.03\00:40:38.90
He calmed the sea,
He hushed the winds.
00:40:38.93\00:40:42.30
But that's not the
only thing he remembered.
00:40:42.34\00:40:43.91
This fisherman that was
familiar with the ocean,
00:40:43.94\00:40:46.37
he goes back to another occasion
00:40:46.41\00:40:48.04
when the angry
sea was around him
00:40:48.08\00:40:49.78
and he called the Lord and said,
00:40:49.81\00:40:51.15
"If it is You, call
me out to the waves"
00:40:51.18\00:40:54.45
and he went out and
walked on the water.
00:40:54.48\00:40:56.28
And when he began
to lose sight of Jesus
00:40:56.32\00:40:58.39
and began to
sink, his simple prayer,
00:40:58.42\00:41:00.56
"Lord, save me"
resulted in his salvation.
00:41:00.59\00:41:04.39
He recalls these
moments on the sea.
00:41:04.43\00:41:07.60
I've begun to learn
that the Lord takes us back
00:41:07.63\00:41:10.13
to the experiences of our past
00:41:10.17\00:41:12.30
to know that in
the new experiences,
00:41:12.33\00:41:14.54
we can have a different attitude
00:41:14.57\00:41:17.61
about the way that
God can deliver us.
00:41:17.64\00:41:19.54
Amen, somebody? Amen.
00:41:19.57\00:41:20.94
Why take this man to
the sea? So get this now.
00:41:20.98\00:41:25.58
The Lord delivered
him before in the storm.
00:41:25.61\00:41:28.22
The Lord saved him again
from drowning in a storm.
00:41:28.25\00:41:33.36
This time, this new Peter,
00:41:33.39\00:41:37.23
this converted
Peter, this redeemed Peter,
00:41:37.26\00:41:42.53
if there is one
thing Peter learned
00:41:42.56\00:41:45.70
from all his
failures and his past
00:41:45.73\00:41:48.77
is that you don't
have to be afraid of Jesus
00:41:48.80\00:41:52.17
in your future trials.
00:41:52.21\00:41:53.88
I'll be back tomorrow.
00:41:58.31\00:42:01.28
If there is one thing, brethren,
00:42:01.32\00:42:02.65
you can learn in your future
00:42:02.68\00:42:04.29
through the trials of your past,
00:42:04.32\00:42:06.42
when the Lord...
00:42:06.45\00:42:11.86
See, Louis... If
there is one thing...
00:42:11.89\00:42:16.23
If there is one
thing you could learn...
00:42:16.26\00:42:19.17
If there is one
thing you could learn
00:42:19.20\00:42:21.40
about the trials of your past
00:42:21.44\00:42:23.71
that the Lord delivered you from
00:42:23.74\00:42:27.48
is you don't have to worry about
00:42:27.51\00:42:28.84
the trials of your future.
00:42:28.88\00:42:30.55
Amen.
00:42:30.58\00:42:31.91
You see, this is the
reason for the plunge.
00:42:31.95\00:42:33.62
You see, this time,
00:42:33.65\00:42:35.22
the sea wasn't a factor
between Peter and Jesus.
00:42:35.25\00:42:38.45
But it had been on
two other occasions.
00:42:38.49\00:42:40.46
This time its
unpredictable nature
00:42:40.49\00:42:42.52
was no longer the
heightening of his fear.
00:42:42.56\00:42:45.39
This time Peter didn't care
about the depths of the sea,
00:42:45.43\00:42:47.86
he just plunged.
00:42:47.90\00:42:49.40
This time he didn't wait
for the Lord to call him,
00:42:49.43\00:42:51.60
he just plunged.
00:42:51.63\00:42:53.67
This time he didn't ask
for anybody to go with him,
00:42:53.70\00:42:56.60
he just plunged.
00:42:56.64\00:42:58.24
It was a personal experience
between him and Jesus.
00:42:58.27\00:43:03.41
He plunged.
00:43:03.45\00:43:05.35
He abandoned ship, the
safety of his precincts.
00:43:05.38\00:43:09.22
He no longer
needed a conformation
00:43:09.25\00:43:11.12
that the future is
going to be bright,
00:43:11.15\00:43:12.92
he trusted the Lord in
whose presence he stood.
00:43:12.95\00:43:15.82
Amen, somebody? Amen.
00:43:15.86\00:43:18.09
You see, often, we live
in the safety of our boat.
00:43:18.13\00:43:21.80
When sometimes we
got to get out of it
00:43:21.83\00:43:24.90
to meet Jesus in the
unstable places of life.
00:43:24.93\00:43:29.97
The fishermen, the fishermen,
00:43:30.01\00:43:34.08
Peter, the
fisherman represents those
00:43:34.11\00:43:36.44
who have spent their lives
in the safety of their ship
00:43:36.48\00:43:40.92
and made their own surroundings,
00:43:40.95\00:43:44.42
the
accoutrements of their lives,
00:43:44.45\00:43:46.35
the reason for their safety.
00:43:46.39\00:43:47.89
And the Lord comes along
00:43:47.92\00:43:49.29
and finally the very things
that brought fear in your past,
00:43:49.32\00:43:53.26
no longer brings
fear in your present.
00:43:53.29\00:43:55.53
And when you hear and
you know that it is God
00:43:55.56\00:43:57.73
that's calling you, you plunge.
00:43:57.77\00:44:00.64
You plunge. You abandon ship.
00:44:00.67\00:44:05.14
You see, it is in the
unstable moments of life
00:44:05.17\00:44:08.74
that we finally
get to know Jesus.
00:44:08.78\00:44:12.51
It is when the ship of our life
00:44:12.55\00:44:14.68
is breaking apart
that we can abandon ship
00:44:14.72\00:44:19.35
and still know that
we'll be safe in Jesus.
00:44:19.39\00:44:22.89
Amen.
00:44:22.92\00:44:24.26
Amen? Amen.
00:44:24.29\00:44:25.63
Abandon ship.
00:44:25.66\00:44:27.40
This morning,
somebody's ship is tossing,
00:44:27.43\00:44:34.07
somebody is in the
middle of angry waves,
00:44:34.10\00:44:38.87
somebody doesn't
know how to handle
00:44:38.91\00:44:40.24
the increasing of the wind
and the rising of the ocean,
00:44:40.28\00:44:43.48
and they have
built their own ship,
00:44:43.51\00:44:46.25
their own place of safety,
their own place of security.
00:44:46.28\00:44:50.45
But I want to
tell you, this morning,
00:44:50.49\00:44:51.92
God is saying to you by faith,
00:44:51.95\00:44:53.96
Jesus is saying to you by faith,
00:44:53.99\00:44:55.59
"You don't have to be
fearful of the angry waves.
00:44:55.62\00:44:57.99
You don't have to be
fearful of the angry sea.
00:44:58.03\00:44:59.56
You don't have to be
worried about the future
00:44:59.59\00:45:01.43
and how it's going to workout."
00:45:01.46\00:45:02.83
If you know it is the Lord,
you got to sometimes plunge.
00:45:02.86\00:45:08.77
You got to do
what? You got to plunge.
00:45:08.80\00:45:12.77
Now the other
disciples got to Jesus
00:45:12.81\00:45:14.58
but they got there after Peter.
00:45:14.61\00:45:17.31
He went to make
sure that this time
00:45:17.35\00:45:19.15
there was no doubt
in the heart of his Lord
00:45:19.18\00:45:21.95
that there was
anything between him and Jesus.
00:45:21.98\00:45:27.66
If there is somebody here today,
00:45:27.69\00:45:30.23
there maybe more than one,
00:45:30.26\00:45:31.59
if there is somebody here today
00:45:31.63\00:45:33.46
that God has for some reason
00:45:33.50\00:45:35.26
taken you to the
unstable places of your life
00:45:35.30\00:45:38.70
and the waves are unpredictable
00:45:38.73\00:45:42.50
and you're in the
night of your fishing,
00:45:42.54\00:45:44.11
you're coming up with nothing.
00:45:44.14\00:45:46.64
And today,
00:45:46.68\00:45:50.08
you are willing to abandon
the place of your own safety
00:45:50.11\00:45:53.48
and dive into the
moment with Jesus.
00:45:53.52\00:45:56.35
As I sing this song,
00:45:56.38\00:45:58.15
I want you to just
simply stand where you are.
00:45:58.19\00:46:00.26
I want to pray for you today.
00:46:00.29\00:46:02.06
I want to pray that
God will take you away
00:46:02.09\00:46:03.56
from the atmosphere
of your own security
00:46:03.59\00:46:07.36
to let you know
that He is the one
00:46:07.40\00:46:08.73
that commands the sea.
00:46:08.76\00:46:11.03
You maybe a
fisherman but He made the sea.
00:46:11.07\00:46:14.60
You may have been
catching things in the past
00:46:14.64\00:46:18.11
but this time the
Lord wants to catch you.
00:46:18.14\00:46:21.64
If that's your
desire, this morning,
00:46:21.68\00:46:23.01
to change the course
of events in your life,
00:46:23.04\00:46:26.72
as I sing this song,
this morning, just plunge.
00:46:26.75\00:46:29.65
Just stand where you are,
00:46:29.68\00:46:31.02
if you want to
come down for prayer,
00:46:31.05\00:46:32.39
I invite you to do that.
00:46:32.42\00:46:34.12
But today, God is
calling you to plunge,
00:46:34.16\00:46:38.73
put your life
where He can change you,
00:46:38.76\00:46:40.43
put your life
where He can deliver you.
00:46:40.46\00:46:42.93
This morning, He's calling
you. Listen to this song.
00:46:42.96\00:46:46.94
If the ship of your life
00:47:11.49\00:47:15.46
Is tossing on the sea of strife
00:47:15.50\00:47:20.00
You need someone
00:47:20.04\00:47:26.74
If you feel so all alone
00:47:26.78\00:47:30.95
And your house is not a home
00:47:30.98\00:47:35.38
You need someone
00:47:35.42\00:47:39.65
If you feel life isn't fair
00:47:42.72\00:47:46.83
And there's no one left to share
00:47:46.86\00:47:49.90
All those lonely day and nights
00:47:49.93\00:47:55.00
When things just
won't turn out right
00:47:55.04\00:47:59.14
And you want someone to share
00:47:59.17\00:48:03.14
And someone to just be there
00:48:03.18\00:48:07.62
You need someone
00:48:07.65\00:48:11.72
So I give you Jesus
00:48:14.99\00:48:20.10
He's the peace
00:48:20.13\00:48:22.23
That passes all understanding
00:48:22.26\00:48:30.21
I give you Jesus
00:48:30.24\00:48:35.28
He's that perfect love
00:48:35.31\00:48:37.55
That casteth out all fear
00:48:37.58\00:48:45.49
I give you Jesus
00:48:45.52\00:48:50.19
He's the water that you drink
00:48:50.23\00:48:54.26
And never thirst again
00:48:54.30\00:49:00.40
I give you Jesus
00:49:00.44\00:49:05.24
My friend
00:49:05.27\00:49:09.41
I give you Jesus
00:49:09.44\00:49:15.35
Listen...
00:49:15.38\00:49:18.35
If the pressures all around
00:49:18.39\00:49:22.26
Have your spirits to the ground
00:49:22.29\00:49:25.69
You need someone
00:49:25.73\00:49:32.13
If your body is in pain
00:49:32.17\00:49:36.40
And your health you can't regain
00:49:36.44\00:49:40.21
You need someone
00:49:40.24\00:49:47.15
If at times that you have tried
00:49:47.18\00:49:50.59
With all the
strength you had inside
00:49:50.62\00:49:54.22
And it seems
that you have failed
00:49:54.26\00:49:58.66
Remember on the
cross He's nailed
00:49:58.69\00:50:01.63
All that bitterness and grief
00:50:01.66\00:50:05.53
To give you
peace and sweet relief
00:50:05.57\00:50:10.14
He is that someone that you need
00:50:10.17\00:50:15.81
So I give you Jesus
00:50:15.84\00:50:22.02
He's the peace
00:50:22.05\00:50:23.75
That passes all understanding
00:50:23.79\00:50:31.26
I give you Jesus
00:50:31.29\00:50:36.33
He's that perfect love
00:50:36.36\00:50:38.17
That casteth out all
00:50:38.20\00:50:43.71
Fear
00:50:43.74\00:50:47.01
I give you Jesus
00:50:47.04\00:50:51.05
He's the water that you drink
00:50:51.08\00:50:55.08
And never thirst again
00:50:55.12\00:51:01.02
I give you Jesus, my friends
00:51:01.06\00:51:08.40
Yes, I give you Jesus
00:51:08.43\00:51:12.10
He's everything,
He's the one you need
00:51:12.13\00:51:17.21
I give you Jesus, my friend
00:51:17.24\00:51:24.91
Yes, I give you Jesus
00:51:24.95\00:51:32.92
You know, this morning
the Lord is calling someone.
00:51:46.84\00:51:51.61
He says, "You've
tried it so many ways
00:51:51.64\00:51:56.14
and your nets are
empty, unfulfilled,
00:51:56.18\00:52:00.68
your plans have not worked
out the way you desired them to,
00:52:00.72\00:52:05.09
your investments,
whatever they maybe,
00:52:05.12\00:52:09.39
just don't produce any results.
00:52:09.42\00:52:14.06
Whatever you've confronted
just comes up empty every time
00:52:14.10\00:52:16.90
and there is no great distance
00:52:16.93\00:52:18.43
between your
failure and My success.
00:52:18.47\00:52:20.84
But if you just do it My way,
00:52:20.87\00:52:23.71
if you just do it My way,
00:52:23.74\00:52:28.71
if you come to
this side of My plan,
00:52:28.74\00:52:32.71
it's going to work out.
00:52:32.75\00:52:34.82
It's going to be all right."
00:52:34.85\00:52:37.39
There may be a void
in your life today...
00:52:37.42\00:52:42.56
The place of your
security is no longer there.
00:52:42.59\00:52:47.56
The person on whom your trust
00:52:47.60\00:52:50.67
was so established
is no longer there.
00:52:50.70\00:52:57.57
But it's in this trying
moment that somebody sent,
00:52:57.61\00:53:00.78
I hear his voice,
00:53:00.81\00:53:02.14
I think that's
the voice of Jesus.
00:53:02.18\00:53:04.68
It is the Lord.
00:53:04.71\00:53:07.75
And if you know it's the Lord,
00:53:07.78\00:53:09.78
this is your
moment to just plunge in.
00:53:09.82\00:53:13.49
Don't worry about anybody else.
00:53:13.52\00:53:15.66
It's not about what
they can do for you.
00:53:15.69\00:53:17.89
It's those moments when
all you need is a garment
00:53:17.93\00:53:21.96
and a desire to close the
gap between you and Jesus.
00:53:22.00\00:53:25.87
So today,
00:53:25.90\00:53:30.14
if there's a special
prayer that's in your heart,
00:53:30.17\00:53:34.21
just raise your
hand where you are.
00:53:34.24\00:53:36.48
I'm going to pray this morning.
00:53:36.51\00:53:41.68
Gracious heavenly Father,
thank You for giving us Jesus.
00:53:41.72\00:53:45.35
He is the peace that
passes all of our understanding.
00:53:45.39\00:53:51.16
Sometimes we begin journeys
00:53:51.19\00:53:54.30
that bring us to
a wall in our lives,
00:53:54.33\00:53:57.70
and we can't go over
it and we are frustrated.
00:53:57.73\00:54:01.54
Sometimes we make choices
that bring us zero results.
00:54:01.57\00:54:06.68
And once again we
wonder, is it the Lord.
00:54:06.71\00:54:13.15
But today, Father, on the
ship of our unstable journey,
00:54:13.18\00:54:19.95
on the waters of
our unstable experience,
00:54:19.99\00:54:22.22
in the depths of the unknown
we pray that today by faith
00:54:22.26\00:54:26.43
we can plunge
00:54:26.46\00:54:28.03
and close the
distance between us and Jesus.
00:54:28.06\00:54:31.93
We could abandon.
00:54:31.97\00:54:34.47
With reckless abandon, we
could just dive in and say,
00:54:34.50\00:54:37.44
"This time I'm not
worried about the waves.
00:54:37.47\00:54:40.31
This time I'm not
concerned about the sea.
00:54:40.34\00:54:42.58
This time I don't even
really care who is with me,
00:54:42.61\00:54:45.41
I'm just going to plunge in
because I know it is the Lord."
00:54:45.45\00:54:51.52
And so, Father, deliver us
00:54:51.55\00:54:53.05
from those
challenges in our lives,
00:54:53.09\00:54:55.06
deliver us from
the faithless places,
00:54:55.09\00:54:58.09
the places that
seem to be so reliable,
00:54:58.13\00:55:00.36
deliver us from them.
00:55:00.40\00:55:03.40
And may we find hope,
and courage, and strength,
00:55:03.43\00:55:05.93
and just the
knowledge of being absorbed
00:55:05.97\00:55:09.27
how wonderful it is that
Peter dove in to the water,
00:55:09.30\00:55:12.71
experience the
complete surrounding
00:55:12.74\00:55:15.34
of the promise of Christ.
00:55:15.38\00:55:17.55
May we leave this place today,
00:55:17.58\00:55:18.91
Lord, knowing that Your
Word is sufficient for us.
00:55:18.95\00:55:22.58
We can be
surrounded in the knowledge
00:55:22.62\00:55:24.12
that everything is
going to be just fine.
00:55:24.15\00:55:26.32
We are plunging in
today, we're abandoning ship,
00:55:26.35\00:55:30.29
and we're swimming to You.
00:55:30.33\00:55:33.06
Thank You, Father,
for identifying us.
00:55:33.09\00:55:37.30
Thank You for
being patient with us
00:55:37.33\00:55:39.87
through the failures
of our past experiences.
00:55:39.90\00:55:42.57
Thank You for the moments
that we were just like Peter.
00:55:42.60\00:55:48.14
May You be glorified.
00:55:48.18\00:55:49.51
We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
00:55:49.54\00:55:53.85